Door For A Domestic Refrigeration Appliance With A Door-End Strip Forming A Cover For A Display Device, And Domestic Refrigeration Appliance Having Such A Door

ABSTRACT

A door for a domestic refrigeration appliance includes an outer door wall, an inner door wall and a door end strip which extends between the outer door wall and the inner door wall. A display apparatus is disposed in the door in such a way that information is displayed in the region of the door end strip. The display apparatus has a cover which covers electronic components of the display apparatus in the direction of the outside of the door, and the cover is formed by the door end strip itself. A domestic refrigeration appliance having a door is also provided.

The invention relates to a door for a domestic refrigeration appliance, which has a door outer wall and a door inner wall and a door end strip extending between the door outer wall and the door inner wall. The door also comprises an electronic display apparatus, which is arranged in the door. The display apparatus is positioned in such a manner that information is displayed in the region of the door end strip. The invention also relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance with such a door.

A corresponding domestic refrigeration appliance is known for example from DE 10 2011 082 790 A1. Provision is made there for a separate door end strip to be configured which closes or covers the end of the door at a narrow edge. Said door edge strip is necessarily stepped. A housing of an electronic control unit is arranged in a lowered region above the door end strip and latched to said door end strip. Said housing is configured separately from the door end strip and is closed per se. As far as size is concerned, said housing is arranged so that it almost exactly fills the lowered region of the door end strip.

However such a configuration means that unwanted gaps are formed facing outward between the complex shape of the door end strip and said housing. The geometry of the door end strip means that such gaps may even be enlarged as a result of manufacturing tolerances and assembly tolerances. Dust and even fluids may therefore collect in said gaps. Assembly is also complicated with the latching of the housing of the electronic control unit to a number of points on the complex shape of the door end strip.

It is the object of the present invention to create both a door for a domestic refrigeration appliance and also a corresponding domestic refrigeration appliance, in which such gaps can be avoided.

This object is achieved by a door and domestic refrigeration appliance according to the independent claims.

An inventive door for a domestic refrigeration appliance comprises a door outer wall and a door inner wall that is separate and arranged at a distance therefrom. The separate door outer wall and the door inner wall are connected by a door end strip, which extends between the door outer wall and the door inner wall. The door also comprises an electronic display apparatus, which is arranged in the door. The display apparatus is positioned in such a manner that information is displayed optically in the region of the door end strip. This means that the optical signals from the display apparatus are output to the outside of the door in the region of the door end strip. One important concept of the invention is that said display apparatus has a cover, which covers electronic components of the display apparatus in the direction of the outside of the door. This cover is also formed by the door end strip itself. The function of covering the display apparatus is therefore also integrated in a single component, specifically the door end strip, and such multifunctionality is thus achieved in a single component. Such a configuration avoids unwanted gaps between a door end strip and a separate display apparatus. The number of components is also reduced, thereby cutting down assembly outlay. The cover is therefore integrated as it were in the door end strip.

The door end strip therefore forms the outermost component on a narrow edge region of the door, thereby determining the appearance of the door.

In one advantageous embodiment the cover is configured as a U-profile. This is advantageous as it results not only in a panel that is flat per se, closing off the door as it were only over one plane and covering the electronic components, but one that has a corresponding function over at least three sides. The ingress of dust or dirt from the sides is also prevented. Also the mechanically stable fastening of a component with such specific geometry is also improved. This is advantageous specifically when said door end strip also has to be arranged in a precise position in relation to the electronic components and to remain in a stable position there for a long period due to the additional function of covering the display apparatus, in order to be able to transmit the optical signals through the door end strip and the cover with positional precision.

The electronic components are preferably arranged in a chamber formed by the U-shape. Such positioning of said electronic components, as it were lowered into the U-shape, means they are given greater protection. Also the distance between the electronic components, in particular also light sources of the display apparatus, and a U-base of the U-shape and/or a U-side wall of the U-shape is as small as possible, thereby allowing light loss and blurred optical displays to be at least significantly reduced.

Provision is preferably made for the U-shaped cover to have a U-base running perpendicular to the door outer wall and perpendicular to the door inner wall, information being displayed through said U-base. Optical signals are therefore also transmitted by electronic components, in particular light sources of the display apparatus, and passed through said U-base, so that they can be seen appropriately by an observer outside the door end strip.

Provision is made in particular for the U-shaped cover to have one U-side wall running in the direction of the door outer wall and one running in the direction of the door inner wall, information being displayed through these. It is therefore not only possible to send optical signals as it were in an upward direction by way of the U-base but also or instead to send optical signals through such a U-side wall. It is thus possible to select the most suitable presentation surface or presentation side for the optical information depending on the situation and/or there is greater diversity in respect of the scope of information to be displayed.

Provision is preferably made for the opening of the U-shape to be arranged facing the door outer wall and the door inner wall. The space between the door outer wall and the door inner wall is then closed in a capped manner by this U-shape.

Provision is preferably made for a connecting part that is U-shaped in cross-section and arranged between the door outer wall and the door inner wall and connects said door outer wall and the door inner wall to be arranged at least partially in a chamber formed by the U-shape of the cover. This separate connecting part can thus be an inner door end part. This can be provided, if a space between the door outer wall and the door inner wall is filled with a thermally insulating material, in particular an insulating foam, and this is not to come into direct contact with the display apparatus. This connecting part can then form the closure for said space and said thermally insulating material can extend to said connecting part as a maximum. Said connecting part then represents as it were a separating wall between the thermally insulating material and the display apparatus, in particular the electronic components of the display apparatus.

Said connecting part is preferably connected directly to the door outer wall and the door inner wall.

Said connecting part can then also serve as a support or bearing part for the components of the display apparatus.

Provision is preferably made for a U-side wall of the U-shape to have a slot into which the door inner wall extends. This establishes a mechanically secure and stable connection between the cover, which is specifically shaped for this purpose, and the door inner wall.

In one advantageous embodiment provision can be made for the cover, which is configured as a U-profile, to overlap and extend around the door outer wall and the door inner wall on the outside in the heightwise direction of the door. The U-side walls of said U-profile are therefore arranged so that they engage around the outside of the respective ends of the door inner wall and the door outer wall facing the cover.

Provision can be made for the cover to be connected directly to the door outer wall and/or the door inner wall. A bond can be provided here for example.

In one advantageous embodiment provision is made for the cover to extend over at least 90 percent of the width, in particular over the entire width, of the door outer wall and the door inner wall. This improves the advantages cited in the introduction of freedom from gaps and thus an arrangement that is protected against dust ingress or liquid ingress as well as that of component reduction.

Provision can be made for the cover to extend over at least 90 percent of the depth, in particular over the entire depth, between the door outer wall and the door inner wall. The advantages cited above apply correspondingly here.

In particular the cover is thus configured as a single-piece part, which extends over the entire width and depth of this configuration with the door outer wall and the door inner wall.

In one advantageous embodiment provision is made for the cover to be permeable to light in the spectral range that is visible to humans at least in the region of the optical displays to be output.

In one advantageous embodiment provision is made for the cover to be made of a material that is colored and at least hinders, in particular prevents, a view of the electronic components from the outside in a state that is not optically displaying information. This means that the cover is colored in such a manner that when optical signals are generated, they can be transmitted through the cover in this region and can be seen easily by an observer. When no optical signals are generated in this manner, said cover is not readily transparent and the view of the electronic components is at least significantly restricted. Coloring is in particular such that when no optical signals are generated, there is an opaque configuration from the outside toward the electronic components.

Provision is made in particular for the cover to be made of glass. In additional to a high level of technical functionality in respect of the mechanically stable configuration, the corresponding fastening option and the rigidity of such a configuration, it is also possible to transmit optical signals through glass. Such a configuration is also positive in respect of visual appearance and the high quality level it conveys.

Provision can also be made for the cover to be made of plastic.

The invention also relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance with a housing, in which a chamber for holding food is configured. The domestic refrigeration appliance also comprises a door according to the invention or an advantageous configuration thereof, which is arranged on the housing in a pivotable manner.

The terms “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “depthwise direction”, “widthwise direction”, “heightwise direction” indicate the positions and orientations defined when the door or appliance is used and arranged in the correct manner and for an observer standing in front of the door or appliance and looking in the direction of the door or appliance.

Further features of the invention will emerge from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations cited above in the description and the features and feature combinations cited below in the description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be used not only in the respectively cited combination but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus embodiments of the invention, which are not specifically shown and explained in the figures but emerge and can be generated from the embodiments described by means of separate feature combinations, should also be considered to be included and disclosed. Embodiments and feature combinations, which therefore do not comprise all the features of an originally formulated independent claim, should also be considered to be disclosed.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below based on schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive domestic refrigeration appliance;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective sectional view of a sub region of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive door; and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective sectional view of a sub region of a further exemplary embodiment of an inventive door

Identical elements or those of identical function are shown with identical reference characters in the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a domestic refrigeration appliance 1, which is configured to hold food and can be for example a refrigerator or a freezer or a combined refrigerator/freezer appliance.

The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a housing 2, in which at least one chamber 3 for holding food is configured. A door 4 is arranged in a pivotable manner on the housing 2. The door 4 can be used to close the chamber 3.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the door 4. It comprises a door inner wall 5 and a door outer wall 6 arranged at a distance therefrom. When the door 4 is in the closed state, the door inner wall 5 faces the chamber 3.

Configured between the door inner wall 5 and the door outer wall 6 is a space 7, which is filled with a thermally insulating material 8, for example an insulating foam.

In the exemplary embodiment a handle 9 is arranged on the door outer wall 6.

In the view in FIG. 2 the door 4 is closed off with a door end strip 10 in a top region. The door end strip 10 is therefore the outermost component on this narrow top edge of the door 4.

At the same time the door end strip 10 is also a cover 11 for an electronic display apparatus 12, which generates optical information to be displayed in the direction of the door end strip and transmits it to the outside through the door end strip. The electronic display apparatus 12 therefore does not have any further cover of its own in addition to and separate from the door end strip 10. The electronic display apparatus 12 is configured in the door 4 and comprises electronic components 13, which are arranged for example on a circuit substrate 14. The electronic components 13 here also comprise a number of light sources, which transmit optical signals in the direction of the door end strip 10 and therefore also the cover 11. The cover 11 is thus integrated in the door end strip 10, said door end strip 10 being configured as a single-piece component, in particular made of glass. As shown, the door end strip 10 extends over the entire width (extension in z-direction) between the door inner wall 5 and the door outer wall 6.

Said door end strip 10 also extends over the entire width (x-direction) of the door 4 and thus also over the width of the door inner wall 5 and the door outer wall 6.

In the embodiment shown the single-piece door end strip 10 is configured as a U-profile, which has a U-base 15 and U-side walls 16 and 17. The U-shape is oriented such that the opening of the U-shape is oriented in the direction of the space 7 and thus oriented toward the door inner wall 5 and the door outer wall 6.

As also shown, the U-shape forms a chamber 18, in which the electronic components 13 are arranged and held.

As also shown, the optical signals can be radiated in the direction of the U-base 15 and/or in the direction of the outer or front U-side wall facing away from the chamber 3. This allows optical information to be radiated through the U-base 15 and/or the U-side wall 17 and to be supplied or seen outside the door.

The U-side wall 16 facing the chamber 3 has a slot 19, into which the door inner wall 5 extends, to be held therein.

As also shown, the U-side walls 16 and 17 are arranged to overlap with top ends of the door inner wall 5 and the door outer wall 6 in the vertical direction and thus in the y-direction, covering or engaging over the outside of these.

The cover 11 and therefore also the door end strip 10 are permeable to light in the spectral range that is visible to humans in the region of the optical displays to be output. The cover 11 and therefore also the door end strip 10 are also made of a material that is colored and at least hinders, in particular prevents, a view of the electronic components 13 from the outside when the display apparatus 12 is in a state that is not optically displaying information.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here the insulating foam 8 extends to the display apparatus 12.

FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment, in which, in contrast to the view in FIG. 2, an additional separate connecting part 20 is present, which closes off the space 7 in the direction of the display apparatus 12. The connecting part 20 is connected to the door inner wall 5 and the door outer wall 6 and therefore also closes off said space 7. In this embodiment provision is also made for the door inner wall 5 not to extend into a slot 19, which is not configured in the U-side wall 16 here. As also shown, the door end strip 10, and therefore also the cover 11, holds the connecting part 20 or the door end strip 10 engages around the outside of said connecting part 20.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   1 Domestic refrigeration appliance -   2 Housing -   3 Chamber -   4 Door -   5 Door inner wall -   6 Door outer wall -   7 Space -   8 Thermally insulating material -   9 Handle -   10 Door end strip -   11 Cover -   12 Electronic display apparatus -   13 Electronic component -   14 Circuit substrate -   15 U-base -   16, 17 U-side walls -   18 Chamber -   19 Slot -   20 Connecting part 

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A door for a domestic refrigeration appliance, the door comprising: an outer door wall, an inner door wall, and an outside of the door; a door end strip extending between said outer door wall and said inner door wall; and a display apparatus disposed in the door and displaying information in a region of said door end strip; said display apparatus having electronic components and a cover covering said electronic components in a direction of said outside of the door, said cover being formed by said door end strip itself.
 16. The door according to claim 15, wherein said cover is a U-shaped profile.
 17. The door according to claim 16, wherein said U-shaped profile forms a chamber, and said electronic components are disposed in said chamber.
 18. The door according to claim 16, wherein said U-shaped profile cover has a base extending perpendicular to said outer door wall and said inner door wall, and information is displayed optically through said base.
 19. The door according to claim 16, wherein said U-shaped profile cover has a side wall extending in a direction of said outer door wall and said inner door wall, and information is displayed optically through said side wall.
 20. The door according to claim 16, which further comprises: a connecting part having a U-shaped cross-section and being disposed between said outer door wall and said inner door wall; said connecting part interconnecting said outer door wall and said inner door wall; and said connecting part being disposed at least partially in a chamber formed by said U-shaped profile of said cover.
 21. The door according to claim 16, wherein said U-shaped profile cover has a side wall with a slot into which said inner door wall extends.
 22. The door according to claim 15, wherein said outer door wall and said inner door wall have a width, and said cover extends over 90% to 100% of said width.
 23. The door according to claim 15, wherein said outer door wall and said inner door wall define a depth therebetween, and said cover extends over 90% to 100% of said depth.
 24. The door according to claim 15, wherein said cover is constructed as a single piece.
 25. The door according to claim 15, wherein said cover has a region for outputting optical displays, and said cover is permeable to light in a spectral range being visible to humans at least in said region for outputting optical displays.
 26. The door according to claim 15, wherein said cover is made of a colored material, and said cover at least hinders or prevents viewing said electronic components from outside the door when said display apparatus is in a state not optically displaying information.
 27. The door according to claim 15, wherein said cover is made of glass or plastic.
 28. A domestic refrigeration appliance, comprising: a housing having a chamber formed therein for holding food; and a door according to claim 15 being pivotably disposed on said housing. 